Steve Heminger appointed to SFMTA board as director search begins

Mayor London Breed has tapped former Metropolitan Transportation Commission Executive director Steve Heminger to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors, replacing outgoing director Lee Hsu.

Heminger brings 18 years of experience as the former head of the MTC, which provides regional funding for transportation projects and programs in nine Bay Area counties, including in San Francisco.

He was responsible for administering $2 billion a year for transportation projects and played a role as chairman of the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee that oversaw the construction of the east span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Heminger retired from the MTC in February of this year.

The appointment of Heminger comes at a critical time at the transit agency. Breed just earlier this week called for the SFMTA Board of Directors to conduct a national search for a director of transportation after Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin submitted his resignation Monday.

Reiskin will leave the SFMTA when his contract expires in mid-August.

Breed said in a statement:

“Steve Heminger’s expertise in regional transportation will make him an incredible addition to the Board of Directors, especially at this critical moment as the Board embarks on its search to find SFMTA’s next leader.”

The mayor continued:

“Moving forward, his insight and experience working with transportation agencies across the Bay Area, including SFMTA, will support the City’s work to strengthen our public transportation system, make our streets safer for all users, and deliver transportation improvement projects.”

The Board of Supervisors will need to approve Breed’s nomination to the SFMTA Board of Directors.

Heminger said in a statement:

“San Francisco has no shortage of transportation challenges, but I am confident we can improve. I thank Mayor Breed for the opportunity to bring my regional experience to bear on making it easier for my fellow residents to move around town.”